diff --git a/src/modules/packages/main.py b/src/modules/packages/main.py
index 98faa9b63..3dd93576a 100644
--- a/src/modules/packages/main.py
+++ b/src/modules/packages/main.py
@@ -379,6 +379,7 @@ class PMPacman(PackageManager):
     def __init__(self):
         import re
         progress_match = re.compile("^\\((\\d+)/(\\d+)\\)")
+
         def line_cb(line):
             if line.startswith(":: "):
                 self.in_package_changes = "package changes" in line
@@ -396,30 +397,64 @@ class PMPacman(PackageManager):
         self.in_package_changes = False
         self.line_cb = line_cb
 
+        self.pacman_num_retries = libcalamares.job.configuration.get("pacman_num_retries", 0)
+        self.pacman_disable_timeout = libcalamares.job.configuration.get("pacman_disable_download_timeout", False)
+        self.pacman_needed_only = libcalamares.job.configuration.get("pacman_needed_only", False)
+
     def reset_progress(self):
         self.in_package_changes = False
         # These are globals
         self.progress_fraction = (completed_packages * 1.0 / total_packages)
 
+    def run_pacman(self, command):
+        # Call pacman in a loop until it is successful or the number of retries is exceeded
+        pacman_count = 0
+        while pacman_count <= self.pacman_num_retries:
+            pacman_count += 1
+            try:
+                libcalamares.utils.target_env_process_output(command, self.line_cb)
+                return
+            except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+                if pacman_count <= self.pacman_num_retries:
+                    pass
+                else:
+                    raise
+
     def install(self, pkgs, from_local=False):
+        command = ["pacman"]
+
         if from_local:
-            pacman_flags = "-U"
+            command.append("-U")
         else:
-            pacman_flags = "-S"
+            command.append("-S")
+
+        command.append("--noconfirm")
+
+        if self.pacman_needed_only is True:
+            command.append("--needed")
+
+        if self.pacman_disable_timeout is True:
+            command.append("--disable-download-timeout")
+
+        command += pkgs
+
+        self.run_pacman(command)
 
         self.reset_progress()
-        libcalamares.utils.target_env_process_output(["pacman", pacman_flags,
-                               "--noconfirm"] + pkgs, self.line_cb)
 
     def remove(self, pkgs):
         self.reset_progress()
-        libcalamares.utils.target_env_process_output(["pacman", "-Rs", "--noconfirm"] + pkgs, self.line_cb)
+        self.run_pacman(["pacman", "-Rs", "--noconfirm"] + pkgs)
 
     def update_db(self):
-        check_target_env_call(["pacman", "-Sy"])
+        self.run_pacman(["pacman", "-Sy"])
 
     def update_system(self):
-        check_target_env_call(["pacman", "-Su", "--noconfirm"])
+        command = ["pacman", "-Su", "--noconfirm"]
+        if self.pacman_disable_timeout is True:
+            command.append("--disable-download-timeout")
+
+        self.run_pacman(command)
 
 
 class PMPamac(PackageManager):
diff --git a/src/modules/packages/packages.conf b/src/modules/packages/packages.conf
index 49fdbb6d6..8d76060a0 100644
--- a/src/modules/packages/packages.conf
+++ b/src/modules/packages/packages.conf
@@ -62,6 +62,22 @@ skip_if_no_internet: false
 update_db: true
 update_system: false
 
+# pacman specific options
+#
+# pacman_num_retries should be a positive integer which sepcifies the
+# number of times the call to pacman will be retried in the event of a
+# failure.  If it is missing, it will be set to 0
+#
+# pacman_disable_download_timeout is a boolean that, when true, includes
+# the flag --disable-download-timeout on calls to pacman.  When missing,
+# false is assumed
+#
+# pacman_needed_only is a boolean that includes the pacman argument --needed
+# when set to true.  If missing, false is assumed
+pacman_num_retries: 0
+pacman_disable_download_timeout: false
+pacman_needed_only: false
+
 #
 # List of maps with package operations such as install or remove.
 # Distro developers can provide a list of packages to remove
diff --git a/src/modules/packages/packages.schema.yaml b/src/modules/packages/packages.schema.yaml
index 989bf11dd..bc0a1f9ea 100644
--- a/src/modules/packages/packages.schema.yaml
+++ b/src/modules/packages/packages.schema.yaml
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ properties:
     update_system: { type: boolean, default: false }
     skip_if_no_internet: { type: boolean, default: false }
 
+    pacman_num_retries: { type: integer, default: 0 }
+    pacman_disable_download_timeout: { type: boolean, default: false }
+    pacman_needed_only: { type: boolean, default: false }
+
     operations:
         type: array
         items: